Hearing loss and associated risk factors in newborns with meconium aspiration syndrome: a single-center retrospective comparative cross-sectional study

Abstract

Aims: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of hearing loss in newborns diagnosed with meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) and to evaluate potential risk factors. Methods: A retrospective, comparative cross-sectional study was conducted between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024, at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Malatya Training and Research Hospital. The study included 91 newborns diagnosed with MAS and 14.998 newborns in the control group. All cases were screened using automated auditory brainstem response (ABR) in accordance with the Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (2019) guidelines. Hearing loss was diagnosed based on clinical brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA) at ≥60 dB HL. The groups were compared in terms of demographic, clinical, and treatment variables. Results: The rate of permanent hearing loss was 2.17% (n=2) in the MAS group and 0.40% (n=60) in the control group. The difference was statistically significant (OR: 5.57; 95% CI: 1.31–23.61; p=0.054). The use of furosemide was higher in infants with hearing loss in the MAS group (OR: 28.67; p=0.086). No significant association was found between hyperbilirubinemia history and mechanical ventilation use and hearing loss. Conclusion: The prevalence of hearing loss in newborns with MAS appeared higher than in the general population. However, the very small number of cases limits the statistical power of our study. These findings should therefore be interpreted as preliminary and hypothesis-generating. Hearing screening before discharge and careful use of ototoxic medications are recommended, while lifelong follow-up suggestions should be confirmed by larger prospective studies.

Keywords

• Meconium aspiration syndrome
• hearing loss
• newborn
• ototoxicity
• ABR

Mekonyum aspirasyon sendromu tanılı yenidoğanlarda işitme kaybı sıklığı ve ilişkili faktörler: tek merkezli retrospektif karşılaştırmalı kesitsel bir çalışma

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, mekonyum aspirasyon sendromu (MAS) tanısı alan yenidoğanlarda işitme kaybı prevalansını belirlemek ve olası risk faktörlerini değerlendirmektir. Gereç ve Yöntem:1 Ocak 2022 – 31 Aralık 2024 tarihleri arasında Malatya Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi Yenidoğan Yoğun Bakım Ünitesi’nde yürütülen retrospektif, karşılaştırmalı kesitsel çalışmaya MAS tanılı 91 yenidoğan ve kontrol grubunu oluşturan 14.998 yenidoğan dâhil edildi. Tüm olgular, Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (2019) kılavuzuna uygun şekilde Automated Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) ile tarandı. İşitme kaybı tanısı, klinik Brainstem Evoked Response Audiometry (BERA) ile ≥60 dB HL eşiğine göre konuldu. Gruplar demografik, klinik ve tedavi değişkenleri açısından karşılaştırıldı. Bulgular: MAS grubunda kalıcı işitme kaybı oranı %2,17 (n=2) iken kontrol grubunda %0,40 (n=60) olarak saptandı. Aradaki fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlılık sınırındaydı (OR: 5,57; %95 GA: 1,31–23,61; p=0,054). MAS grubunda işitme kaybı olan bebeklerde furosemid kullanımı daha yüksekti (OR: 28,67; p=0,086). Hiperbilirubinemi öyküsü ve mekanik ventilasyon kullanımı ile işitme kaybı arasında anlamlı ilişki bulunmadı. Sonuç: MAS tanılı yenidoğanlarda işitme kaybı prevalansı genel popülasyona göre yüksektir. Bu nedenle MAS olgularında taburculuk öncesi işitme taramasının eksiksiz yapılması, ototoksik ilaç kullanımında dikkatli olunması ve riskli bebeklerin yaşam boyu işitme takibinin planlanması önerilmektedir. Daha geniş örneklemli prospektif çalışmalar, MAS ve işitme kaybı ilişkisine dair kanıt düzeyini güçlendirecektir.

Keywords

• Mekonyum aspirasyon sendromu
• işitme kaybı
• yenidoğan
• ototoksisite
• ABR

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